Dinha wins Con-Court referral

HARARE - Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Martin Dinha has won a Constitutional Court (Con-Court) referral in a trial he is accused of soliciting for a $60 000 bribe from a white farmer.

Dinha, who is facing money laundering and criminal abuse of duty charges, is seeking the declassification of State documents, which he wants to use in crafting his court defence.

His application for referral to the Con-Court came after High Court judge Happious Zhou initially dismissed his request for the declassification of the documents before his trial commenced.

But Zhou yesterday granted him leave to approach the Con-Court.

“This court is of the view that the request for Constitutional Court referral cannot be characterised as frivolous and vexatious,” Zhou ruled.

He said that it was the right of every person to approach the Con-Court if he or she had any constitutional issues for determination.

Zhou said that Section 175 (4) of the Constitution provided that if any constitutional issues arose during proceedings, a presiding officer must refer the matter to the Con-Court, unless the request is frivolous and vexatious.

Dinha, who was represented by Thabani Mpofu, Garikai Sithole and Tapson Dzvetero, argued that the documents that he needs to use in his defence were held under the Official Secrets Act and as such were supposed to be declassified first before being used in court.

Comments (1)

Dinha is a big crook protected by Zanu pf.

phuc that - 27 November 2015

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